Knight without fear and beyond reproach

The life of George Maduro 1916-1945

“Kathleen Brandt-Carey has succeeded in writing an almost-perfect biography of the almost-perfect George Maduro”

Sander van Walsum in de Volkskrant

A forgotten hero

George Maduro was a household name in the Netherlands of the 1930s. He was the handsome, charismatic son of a well-to-do Jewish family from Curaçao and had garnered national fame as a university student when he tried to kidnap the mascot of the Royal Dutch Navy. The invasion of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany put an abrupt end to his carefree existence. On the first day of the invasion he led a courageous charge to recapture a strategic villa, which helped delay the German advance. News of his brave feats travelled far and wide; even the Gestapo knew who he was.

George joined the Resistance, was arrested twice and miraculously released after a long imprisonment in the infamous ‘Oranjehotel’ prison. He was arrested by the Gestapo during an attempt to flee to England and died in Dachau Concentration Camp shortly before its liberation. He was 28 years old. George’s parents donated the starting capital for Madurodam, the miniature city in The Hague that supports children’s charities, in memory of their son.

Kathleen Brandt-Carey describes George Maduro’s short but intensive life in living colour: the lush life on Curaçao, his bittersweet love affair with a Protestant girl, Occupied Holland and the Resistance. The ‘Maduro’ behind ‘Madurodam’ is revealed as a complex, lovable and inspiring young man for whom ideals were more important than personal safety and who never lost courage, even under the most brutal circumstances.

Knight Without Fear and Beyond Reproach was published simultaneously with its Dutch version, Ridder zonder vrees of blaam, in July 2016 by Spectrum publishers in the Netherlands.

How to order your copy of Knight Without Fear and Beyond Reproach:

As e-book:

The kindle version of Knight Without Fear and Beyond Reproach can be downloaded at:

amazon.co.uk and bol.com ship all over the world. Postage varies with destination.

If ordering books for the US from bol.com, be sure to fill in your zip where it says ‘postcode’ and fill in your state where it says ‘plaats’.

You can also order directly from the author by using the Contact page. The cost is €24.99 (or USD equivalent) plus shipping. Please specify your name, address, country and the number of books required. We will contact you with payment and shipping information. Discounts are available for book clubs and other bulk orders.